German firefighters get training tips from Chicago Fire Department

VIDEO: Some of the firefighters responding to calls on Chicago's South Side are a long way away from home. In fact, they traveled thousands of miles just to be here. CBS 2's Noel Brennan introduces us to the German firefighters who've joined the Chicago Fire Department for a couple of weeks. In Chicago, a firehouse and good food go hand in hand. "Every day, eating here is basically like eating at a restaurant, so it's always pretty good," said Philip Gramberg. The young firefighter loaded his plate full of sausage and sautéed green peppers inside a CFD fire station in Englewood. "I think we should send our chefs over here," Gramberg joked. "Get some training in." Gramberg was taking notes for his home department. "I'm from Germany, so I work in Bremen. Normally, I'm a firefighter there. It's in the north of Germany about one and a half hours from Hamburg."
WBBM-TV CBS 2 Chicago

All clear given after bomb threat prompts evacuation of elementary school in Highland Park

PHOTOS: An elementary school in Highland Park was evacuated Thursday and a large police response was sent following a bomb threat that has been determined to be unfounded. The Highland Park Police Department and Highland Park Fire Department responded around 7:50 a.m. Thursday to Red Oak Elementary School, 530 Red Oak Lane, for a report of a bomb threat. The City of Highland Park said in an initial statement that a large police presence was at the school to facilitate an investigation. Residents in the immediate area were advised to avoid Red Oak Lane, which was closed at Rosemary Road and Ridge Road. North Shore School District 112 delayed the start time for students by two hours due to the threat. City officials said in an update around 10:30 a.m. that police personnel and a team of explosive-detecting dogs conducted a search.
Lake & McHenry County Scanner

’We can do more’: Naperville Fire Department adding staff with mental health calls on the rise

The Naperville Fire Department is getting help to deal with the increasing number of 911 calls related to mental health and quality-of-life concerns. The city council on Tuesday unanimously approved the hiring of six new firefighter/paramedics at an annual cost of $750,000. Because the hirings are anticipated to be made in October, council members also voted to amend the 2023 budget with a $175,000 addition to account for salaries and benefits through the end of the year. "It's something that we need," Fire Chief Mark Puknaitis said. "In order to do it, we need the staffing." Puknaitis said the initiative is an expansion of the Community Advocate Response Team that began as a pilot program in 2022. The CART program requires extra staffing to build its capability to 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
The Daily Herald - Metered Site

Brookport fire chief retires after 50 years with the same department

The fire chief in Brookport hung up his gear for the last time after five decades with the same fire department. Newly retired and now former Brookport Fire Chief Bill Copley signed off on September 18th with the fire department after serving his community for 50 years. He first signed on as a cadet in 1973 and then later became fire chief and served 45 years in that role. "Thank you for your service and dedication to the department and to our community," the Brookport Fire Department said in a post on Facebook. In place of Mr. Copley, the Brookport Assistant Fire Chief Joseph Wooten has become the Brookport Interim Fire Chief. "Wooten is a full time paramedic and has been serving our community on the fire department since February 2008," the Facebook post said. "Wooten has played a pivotal role in shaping the departments operations."
WSIL-TV ABC 3 Harrisburg